{{prxprp233.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 233 ||

'For my own part,' she rejoined, 'I must confess that I never

could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion

has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her

nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her

teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for

her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could

perceive any thing extraordinary in them. They have a sharp,

shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether,

there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable/

Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth,

this was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry

people are not always wise; and in seeing him at last look some-"

what nettled, she had all the success she expected. He was

resolutely silent however; and, from a determination of making

him speak, she continued,

'I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how

amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and

I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been

dining at Netherfield, "She a beauty! -- I should as soon call her

mother a wit." But afterwards she seemed to improve on you,

and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time.'

'Yes,' replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer,

'but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months

since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of

my acquaintance.'

He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the

satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any

pain but herself.

Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred

during their visit, as they returned, except what had particularly

interested them both. The looks and behaviour of every body

they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had

mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his

friends, his house, his fruit -- of every thing but himself; yet Eliza*

beth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him,

and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her.

niece's beginning the subject.

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